Life after bankruptcy?

beanielou

Hello there doingitanyway
You can start a diary by going to near the top of the page of the list of diary threads and clicking on a button which says something very similar to 'start a new thread'.I think the button is blue.
Keep posting and keep plodding!

doingitanyway

Thanks Beanielou

doingitanyway

Beanielou where is this? I can't see it on the home page...

doingitanyway

New diary has begun. Thanks Beanielou and thanks ani for the inspiration :T

ani_26

Life after bankruptcy.

It hasn't been life at all. Its been sheer existence. Survival. Living day to day, still worrying about the most basic of things, day to day. Like eating. I realised, when i was working away recently, i had a proper evening meal and i simply couldn't eat it.I felt embarrassed picking at my food because i'm not used to eating meals of that quantity. It starts to hit home, the effects you don't realise.


Life finally took an upward turn, a little more then a week ago. Two things happened that day. I still have ani, ( stupidity in itself). I'd taken ani for mot, fully knowing if any repairs were needed, that was it. But ani, as ever, passed with flying colours, and took my last £30 for the mot. I don't know how that car keeps passing, as i never have money for maintenance, but there ani is. Still sparking like a brand new pin, despite the age, in pretty good nick, destined to last forever. Like me, should i say? I'd walked across a bridge over the motorway to collect ani, and even then, i'd stopped and looked.


When i arrived back, there was a letter waiting for me. I almost didn't open it, as it didn't look like anything important. It was probably the most important letter of my life, so far. We are pleased to offer you the tenancy of, and so forth. I had to read it several times. I was stunned. I still am. I'd made a bid on the property 5 weeks earlier, and i'd forgotten about it, as i'm used to not hearing anything back. Despite being homeless, seemingly, you are still low priority when it comes to social housing. Its been a long time in coming, and it's the first place i've been offered. Almost two years after bankruptcy, and being officially homeless, ( and in real terms, when i was seeling advice). Have i really been on the homeless register for that long? Homeless, homeless, homeless. I've got to the point now, when beggars ask me for the price of a cup of coffee, i say, sorry mate. Can you buy me a cup of coofee, ( even though i don't drink it ). I'm homeless, too. I might not look like it. But i am. Not anymore. I'm still stunned, and the sense of relief is indescibable. The thing which everyone takes for granted, i'm sure. Not me. I wouldn't go so far as to say i have a home yet, but i have four walls and a roof, i can call my own, in which to live. I'm not sure i'll ever get attached to four walls again. They say home is where the heart is, but that's for people who have hearts.


I was given the keys last week, but as ever, its not come without problems. The fact i simply don't have the money to pay the rent, for a few weeks, being the main problem. Then the fact my credit rating is still shot to pieces affects things " normal " people take for granted. Like utilities. After a credit check, the gas and electricity supplier wanted a deposit of £400, to supply me with energy. How about a prepayment meter? In my eyes you are just making someone who doesn't have the wherewithal to pay, pay more. No chance. Give me a break. He did. Of sorts. A monthly bill, which has to be paid within 14 days. or else a debt collector will be sent to my door. Quite harsh, huh? to be threatened with debt collectors, before you've got off the ground. But i know if i can't afford this place, i'll never afford anywhere. Same for telephone and internet services. They do a credit check, so i didn't waste their time, and another footprint on my credit file, as i can't afford an upfront fee there, either. See. In some cases, this life after bankruptcy isn't as easy as some would care to make out. It just depends on your circunstances.


Its proving stressful, but not as stressful as having your home repossessed. I move in this week. I have to admit, when i saw the property in the brochure, complete with estate agent jargon, ( this is my dry wit, folks ), i knew it was perfect for me. " Set in a lovely location ". It is too. Back in the hills i know so well. I hadn't planned to go back there, in fact, i stay away. It was pure chance i called in to pay a bill, whilst i was working there, and saw the ahermm, brochure. Its perfect for my retirement, ( well it would have been if i ever retire ), has a warden service too, which is a bonus, since i've just received a letter, reminding me about my check up. At least i have access to outside help, if i ever require it. Despite the fact i hate gardening, it has a front and back garden, and a patio, which i'm looking forward to.Maybe i'll grow some vegatables etc. I can sit on my patio and marvel at the hills, again.The hills i know so well. I can listen to the birds, who don't frequent, around here. There's even a bird cage in the garden. I got caught in the snow there, the other day. Back to how it was, huh? But i sat just looking at the snow on the hills, yesterday, and i must have seen 8 species of birds. Just sat, listening to the birds.There's a price to pay for living in the sticks, but never mind. It will now cost me more in time and money, to get to work, again. But the only thing i like about city living, is the convenience and cheapness of public transport, getting to and from work. A car has become even more of a neccessity, again.


I am sorry to leave here, even though i've no great emotional attachment.Its been comfortable and reasonably chilled. Its just been the money problems, which have been stressful. But it was never a long term arrangement, its too expensive, i don't get the help i desperately need, from the state, and the owners will probably decide to sell, at some point. Now, i can apply for help with housing benefit and council tax, and this should make all the difference to my life. Its make or break time. I've been told i'll only receive £5 a week housing benefit, but i've done all the online calculations, which say i'll have all my rent paid, ( apart from 1p), and all my council tax, too. I'll fight tooth and nail for it, as i'm still on the same income as i ever was, around £500 a month, ( not always paid in that month). Lets face it, if you are on job seekers, you would have a similar income, but you wouldn't have to pay your rent and council tax out of it, like i've been doing. I don't know how i've managed to survive. Yes i do. Of course, i'm in debt again, hence my already bad, credit files, are even worse,again. I've sold and pawned evrything it was possible to. I'm currently in the payday loan trap. I never have the funds to clear them, so i spend my hard earned brass, giving it away. Paying extortionate amounts of interest every month. My first target is to pay them off, one by one. Its insanity, but you have to do what you have to do. I'm so used to living on a low income, i've calculated, for all the money i owe, and the shortfall of what i NEED to earn, i could probably manage on an income of £10k a year. Not much by anyone's standards, hey? £10k a year, (which includes housing benefit ), means sink or swim to me. Only time will tell.


I've had long periods of time off work, weeks at a time, because there's been no work, and i intensified my search for work and housing. I appied to many ha's, and i've applied for numerous jobs, all to no avail. For the time being, i may as well stick to doing what i know best, what i largely enjoy, and what i'm good at. If it doesn't work out for me, and i don't get housing benefit, then maybe the time has come to go on jsa. That way, they will have to pay my housing benefit. But i've no wish to go down this route. I'd rather work, and i've calculated i only need to work more than four days a month, to be financially better off. Well, thats the theory. Which reminds me. A long time ago, M M offered me some help, and i could use it right now. If you read this. Thanks


I know i've dorpped extremely lucky with the housing i've been given.Maybe its because of its location, no one else wants it. I can't say no to it just because i don't have the rent. Beggars can't be choosers and all that, but outwardly, it seems perfect. It even has reasonable carpets and curtains, which i couldn't afford to buy, anyway. Its ready to move straight in, and i no longer have to worry about maintenance and my house falling down around me. Repairs are a phone call away, aren't they? I shall have a look on freecycle as i've no cooker, fridge and the like, but i will just have to wait, or manage. Most of the things are cosmetic, and hopefully i will be able to do them myself, in time. Its still a strange concept of having somewhere to live. Four walls and a roof. Somewhere i can call my own space.




I still don't think its sunk in. Maybe when i move in

MatyMoo

Hello stranger :wave:, I have been looking for you to post on a regular basis and here you are at last.

The new house seems good news but sorry to hear you are struggling in other ways still.

If there is anything I can do to help, just ask.

ani_26

Hey, hello maty :hello: Good to see you.


Will pm you, but i may be some time as i work out how to pm again




Thanks

ani_26

Oh dear, its touching reading my pm's. I may be some more time :rotfl:

MatyMoo

I am sure that many people have been concerned about your absence

beanielou

Good to hear from you.
I so hope that is the fresh start that you need.